Should I stop Yasmin and take Ortho-Tri?

JenJen · 08-14-2003, 02:49 PM

Hey everyone,

I started Yasmin at the end of February of this year (about 5.5 months ago) and at first things were great. My period was on time, which had never been, and my cramps went away.

I had some major hair shedding when I started, but it seems to have slowed down, which was great news. My acne is also a little better.

My problem: my sex drive is almost totally gone as compared to what it was like before the Yasmin. Sorry to be so graphic, but there doesn't seem to be even 30% of the "lubrication" that there used to be. In fact, my sex drive was fine the first month and a half of Yasmin and then it just dropped off.

I absolutely want to be on the pill, but I'm wondering if a different pill would be better for the sex drive and the dryness. It's really starting to affect things with my boyfriend, and no pill is worth that. I read somewhere that some women on triphasic pills actually report an increase in sex drive. But does that mean that my symptoms could also come back? My testosterone level was never in the abnormal high range to begin with, and who knows what it is now....but I know that I need to find some kind of happy medium.

Basically, I'd like to know if people who have been on triphasic pills like Ortho-Tri-Cyclen have seen a better sex drive and still some reduction in acne and hair loss? At this point, I'll try anything.

Thanks everyone,

Jen

Chrissy · 08-15-2003, 10:52 AM

Sex drive is a variable thing. Theoretically they all can lower libido some but not all people have this issue. Lubrication is affected by the estrogen component of the pill combination. I've read that the libido decrease is a temporary one and can improve after a few months and your body gets used to the hormones. What is a high level for some is normal for others. My hormone panel showed relatively low level but I guess I react more to its affect in my body. Only you will know after trying it at least 3 months. I can share that I do better on a low progestin pill like ortho cyclen than I do on higher progestin pills like Mircette. Ortho cyclen has been pretty libido neutral for me where alesse, a higher androgen pill, was probably better. The ortho cyclen is the better all around for me. Hope my experience can help you decide!